Official: Intern no longer at NTSB after name flap

By MIHIR ZAVERI
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A government official with knowledge of the situation says a summer intern who confirmed erroneous and racially offensive names for the pilots of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 is no longer an intern with the National Transportation Safety Board.

The official wasn't authorized to comment about personnel matters and spoke Monday on condition of anonymity.

An anchor for KTVU-TV read the names on the air Friday before apologizing for the error after a break. The NTSB says the intern erroneously confirmed the names "outside the scope of his authority."

Asiana says the TV report "badly damaged" the reputation of the airline and its pilots, and plans to sue the station.

NTSB spokeswoman Kelly Nantel says the agency does not discuss specific personnel matters but has taken "appropriate action to deal with the situation." She says interns in the agency's office of public affairs are unpaid.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.